2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, traditionally not known for its style. With SUV-like styling, the Sienna featured a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays, giving it a modern and assertive stance. The redesigned sliding side doors, with a sculpted body line, added to its appeal, while various alloy wheel sizes enhanced its overall look. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a comfortable seating position and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The centre console was thoughtfully designed with ample storage and smart features, such as a tray for a handbag. The second and third-row seats provided comfort and flexibility, accommodating adults with ease.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its sophistication with a longer body, revised grille, and sporty character lines. The interior featured a more spacious look with a horizontal layout, ambient lighting, and new trim levels like the sporty N Line and Kona N. These trims introduced unique styling elements, such as body-colour cladding and exclusive interior features like black seats with red stitching. The Kona N further elevated the sportiness with wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and N sport bucket seats. The refreshed model's proportions gave it a streamlined appearance, and the fit and finish were commendable for its price point.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, with the latter using a separate electric motor for the rear wheels. The Sienna utilized an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while efficient, slightly dulled throttle response. The Sienna's handling improved with new suspension systems, and its fuel efficiency was impressive, with FWD models rated at 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of powertrains, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower. The N Line trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 195 horsepower, while the Kona N boasted a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine delivering 276 horsepower. The Kona N's performance was enhanced by an N eight-speed wet DCT and exclusive driving features. The Kona's handling was agile, with a low centre of gravity and AWD providing stability. Despite minor turbo lag, the Kona's performance was spirited, and its noise levels were surprisingly low for its class.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience, offering a standard third-row bench that folded into the floor and a second row that slid up to 63.5 centimetres for flexible legroom. The cabin featured ample storage, with 16 cupholders and bottle holders in all doors. The Sienna's cargo capacity was impressive, accommodating a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood. Its hybrid battery was cleverly positioned under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and a rear liftgate added to its family-friendly features.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, provided comfortable front seating with ample headroom and legroom. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges with small door openings and limited space. The Kona's cargo space was modest, with 544 litres available with all seats up, expanding to 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. Towing was not recommended for the Kona, limiting its utility for larger loads.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a nine-inch touchscreen, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and multiple USB ports. Higher trims offered advanced audio systems, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a digital rearview mirror. The Sienna's tech features included a colour multi-information display and remote keyless entry, with upgrades available on higher trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona introduced more tech, with an 8-inch display on the base trim and a 10.25-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The Kona N featured an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, while wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard on the base screen. Hyundai BlueLink offered connected services, and the infotainment system was user-friendly, enhancing the Kona's tech appeal.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering features like adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, and a pre-collision system. The Sienna also included the Star Safety System and blind spot monitoring. It received high safety ratings, including a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and a Five-Star Overall Rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. Optional technologies included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received five stars from NHTSA for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, though it did not achieve Top Safety Pick status due to child-seat anchor ratings.